NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Jan. 31 on its consideration of designating marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a national marine sanctuary. Comments are sought on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the environmental impact statement that are related to designating this area as a national marine sanctuary.
Commenting on the proposal, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said that Papahānaumokuākea’s ecosystems “are increasingly under pressure from threats such as marine debris, invasive species, and climate change” and that a sanctuary designation “would complement the efforts of the four co-trustees to safeguard the monument’s natural, cultural, and historic values.”
ONMS noted that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee recently directed NOAA to initiate a sanctuary designation process, and that a 2016 Presidential Proclamation also directed the Commerce Secretary to consider initiating the sanctuary designation process, with NOAA noting that sanctuary designation would allow the agency to “apply additional regulatory and non-regulatory tools to augment and strengthen existing protections” and “enhance the benefits and expertise offered by the National Marine Sanctuary System and NOAA staff.”
A draft EIS is expected around Jan. 2023, with a Final EIS published in Fall 2023, followed by a Record of Decision, final management plan, and final rule no sooner than 30 days thereafter.
